2nd-year talent is literal center of attention in Las Vegas’ trenches

Sometimes, you’ve got to take what you want. No sitting one one’s laurels and taking things as they come — carpe diem. Seize the day.

That’s not an easy thing to do for a rookie in the NFL.

But for the Las Vegas Raiders neophyte Jackson Powers-Johnson, taking command wasn’t just the proper thing to do, it was the only thing to do. The University of Oregon product’s — the Raiders second-round pick (44th overall) n the 2024 NFL Draft ability and willingness to step forward and forge his...

New film breakdown of two Las Vegas Raiders rookies Ashton Jeanty and Darien Porter

The Las Vegas Raiders are participating in OTAs to build chemistry for the 2025 season. It will be the first time the Silver and Black will come together for live practice and help implement the offensive and defensive systems.

A few rookies who could pay early on are Darien Porter and Ashton Jeanty. Jeanty, of course, will be the lead running back for the year and should have a massive impact on the offense. Porter is an older draft prospect who switched to corner from wide...

Week 1 is will be here before you know it

Our Tuesday community question this week was schedule-centered.

We wanted to know what games fans are most looking forward to.

To recap, here is the Raiders’ 2025 regular-season schedule:

Sept. 7 at New England Patriots, 10 a.m., CBS

Sept 15 Los Angeles Chargers, 7 p.m., ESPN

Sept. 21 at Washington Commanders, 10 a.m., FOX

Sept. 28 Chicago Bears, 1:25 p.m., CBS

Oct. 5 at Indianapolis Colts, 10 a.m., FOX
Oct. 12 Tennessee Titans, 1:05 p.m., FOX

Oct. 19 at Kansas City Chiefs, 10 a.m., CBS

BYE WEEK

Nov. 2 [Jacksonville...

Head coach is clearly excited about reuniting with his quarterback this season

The Las Vegas Raiders' new starting quarterback, Geno Smith, is often quick to credit the Raiders' new head coach, Pete Carroll, for reviving his career. Smith and Carroll have a special relationship going back to their days with the Seattle Seahawks, and the head coach is clearly excited about reuniting with the quarterback this season.

“Yeah, I really feel so fortunate that we were able to get that done (trading for Smith in the offseason),” Carroll said during his media session at the Raiders’ OTAs on Wednesday....

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Diving into one of the Raiders’ most notable UDFAs

The Las Vegas Raiders have drawn some praise recently for signing defensive end Jah Joyner as an undrafted free agent. Many, myself included, thought the former Minnesota Golden Gopher would get selected in the late rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft, largely due to his impressive 2023 campaign.

Two years ago, Joyner logged 7.5 sacks and ranked second among Big 10 edge rushers with 46 total pressures, per Pro Football Focus. The latter was especially impressive considering he out-produced Nic Scourton (second round), JT Tuimoloau (second round) and Jack Sawyer (fourth...

Fielding Raider Nation’s questions for the week

OTAs are underway as the Las Vegas Raiders were back on the practice field this week. Granted, there are a few players who aren’t participating, most notably defensive tackle Christian Wilkins and defensive end Malcolm Koonce. Head coach Pete Carroll also shed some light on Wilkins’ recovery process, creating a stir within Raider Nation.

Additionally, there’s been some news about how the early practices in Las Vegas have gone, and we still have time to go over any offseason questions you have left. So, we have plenty to talk about for this week’s...

Exploring a few of the hardest weeks on the schedule

The NFL released its schedule for the 2025 season and, outside of a significant rest disparity, the Las Vegas Raiders got a fairly favorable draw (on paper, of course). Finishing in last place in the AFC West during the previous campaign certainly helps, as the Raiders will have several matchups against fellow cellar dwellers this fall.

But this is the NFL and tough stretches on the schedule are expected. So, let’s take a look at three clusters of games that will test the Raiders’ mettle during the 2025 season.

**Weeks...

Star pass-rusher likes the culture the new head coach is creating

Playing for a new head coach isn’t exactly foreign territory for Las Vegas Raiders’ defensive end Maxx Crosby. During his six years with the Raiders, Crosby has played for three different full-time head coaches, four if you include Rich Bisaccia’s interim stint in 2021.

So, the four-time Pro Bowler has been through practices with several regimes. With OTAs starting this week and the Pete Carroll era in Las Vegas officially off and running, Crosby was asked on Wednesday what feels different this time around.

“I would just say,...

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Aidan O’Connell the frontrunner to be QB2 behind starter Geno Smith

With Geno Smith as the unquestioned starting quarterback for the Las Vegas Raiders, one of the biggest needs the Silver & Black had going into the inaugural tenure of general manager John Spytek and head coach Pete Carroll is remedied.

Las Vegas handing Smith a two-year contract extension with a max value of $85.5 million ($66.5 million guaranteed) showcases the commitment the team is making to their new QB1. While Carroll preaches open competition this summer for his Raiders, it’s difficult to see any signal caller displacing Smith as...

Defensive tackle is recovering from a foot injury

The Las Vegas Raiders held their second OTA session on Wednesday, May 21, and defensive tackle Christian Wilkins was present but wasn’t participating in the practice. Defensive end Malcolm Koonce also didn't practice, which is expected as Koonce is recovering from a torn ACL that prematurely ended his season last year and is still rehabbing the knee.

According to The Athletic’s Tashan Reed, Wilkins didn’t have a helmet and wasn’t participating in the Raiders’ drills and did the same thing on Monday, the first OTA session in Las Vegas.

The veteran defensive...